Round Four of Super Rugby U16s and U19s had major implications for the finals as the competition heads to the final week of regular season competition.
It started with a convincing weekend for the Queensland Reds, claiming both matches over the Melbourne Rebels.
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This was followed by the Western Force and ACT Brumbies playing an entertaining draw in the U16s before the Brumbies took the U19s match.
Rugby.com.au recaps all the action from week four
U16s
The Queensland Reds have produced a thumping 64-28 victory over the Melbourne Rebels to boost their finals hopes.
It took the hosts just 90 seconds to score against the winless visitors as flanker Gray O’Neill crashed over from close.
Clay Andrews extended the lead three minutes later before Rebels flanker Louis Treacy settled the visitors with a try.
However, they had little answer to the Reds' attack as Max Blanch strolled through the line to put Jack Randall over for the instant response.
Treacy’s second gave the Rebels some hope, only for the Reds to blow them away just before the break.
Two further tries to the hosts built a commanding 42-14 lead at the break.
Even down a man, the Reds were unstoppable as O’Neill got his second for back-to-back doubles.
The visitors tried to capitalise on the Reds going down to 13 through Ukarau Zahvid Tariu-Simonis
but Treyvon Pritchard produced an incredible solo effort, sprinting past the defence before stepping the fullback for a great try.
Tries to Berakah Tuifaasisina and Liam Robinson capped off the impressive win as they hold onto second place on the ladder.
U19s
The Reds have cruised to a 45-8 victory over the Rebels at Sunnybank.
After a tense start, prop Macarius Pereira caught the Rebels napping around the ruck to score the opener.
Hunting for their first win, the Rebels kept in the fight early in the game as they piled on the pressure on the Reds’ line with little success.
The hosts were able to survive the onslaught and eventually second their second through hooker William Rogers at the back of the rolling maul.
They then struck on half-time when fullback Will McCulloch sliced through the line, with centre Frankie Goldsbrough finishing off the play for a 19-3 lead at the break.
The hosts survived a yellow card to winger Ryley Bierton for a deliberate knockdown and managed to outscore the Rebels as Goldsbrough put Joe Doljanin in for a well-deserved try.
Flanker Joe Liddy extended the lead from a quick try, sprinting through the defence and beating the fullback for a great try.
Oliver Barrett and Denzil Perkins scored two late tries in the final five metres to seal the impressive victory.
U16s
The Western Force and ACT Brumbies have played out an entertaining 18-all draw in Claremont.
Playmaker Ezekiel Jackson had a kick to win it for the hosts after the siren, however, it just faded to the left as both teams shared points.
It was the visitors that struck first through their reliable rolling maul, with prop Moses Kaufusi coming up with the ball at the end of the play.
Powerful centre Penijameni Naqau got the Force on the board in the tenth minute after barging over off a set play from a five metre scrum.
The visitors answered in the 25th minute through winger Isaiah Cornforth but it was the Force that took a 12-10 lead into the break when opposing winger Dermott Arthy dived over in the corner.
Attacking opportunities were limited in the second half as the boot of Naqau extended their lead to five just after the break.
Centre Denzel Veikune continued his red-hot tournament for the Brumbies, coming up with the crucial try to level the scores.
The visitors took the lead with minutes later but instantly gave the Force a kickable penalty almost straight from the kickoff for an offside.
Jackson made no mistake from the resulting penalty, setting up the exciting finish.
With seconds remaining, winger Arthy burst down the sideline and found fullback Harry Oddy, whose chip and chase gave the visitors little option but to go into touch on their 22.
The Brumbies then gave the Force a chance to win after infringing from the lineout, only for Jackson’s effort to miss its mark for the draw.
U19s
The ACT Brumbies are one step closer to hosting the Final with a 54-18 win over the Western Force.
The win was built off a dominant start, with flanker Lleyten Tautua s scoring a double inside 12 minutes.
Tautua scored his first off a nice lineout move before backing up full-back Shane Wilcox’s burst off the restart to extend the lead.
The Force kept in touch through hooker Kelton New, however, the visitors are in red-hot form and had a 26-8 lead after tries to Drew Brndusic and winger Angus Staniforth.
Brumbies hooker Boston Morete found himself sitting on the sidelines for ten after repeated infringement, with a great try-saving tackle from Force winger Tiam Toufan keeping the visitors to 13 points at the break.
The two teams traded tries after the break before the Brumbies raced away with the game.
They scored two tries in the space of five minutes as prop Samuel Sahyoun and winger Tino Tavana put the game out of reach.
Tavana’s intercept try deflated the Force, who found themselves down a man when backrower Dane Sawers was yellow carded.
It allowed Staniforth to grab his second and bring up the half century, once again set up by fullback Wilcox.
The win ensures the Brumbies will host the finals if they can defeat the Queensland Reds next week at Ballymore
